BP Chief Resigns Over Lies On Gay Lover

The chief executive of U.K. energy giant BP stepped down unexpectedly today, after a court ruled he had lied about details of his relationship with a 27-year-old man, and the House of Lords decided he couldn't keep a tabloid from printing them. Lord Browne of Madingley lavished the student with gifts, and allegedly even gave away trade secrets.

Lord Browne admits he lied about meeting his lover at Battersea Park; the tabloid Sun published salacious details of the gay escort site that connected them. He also admits payments to the young man, but denies wrongdoing apropos of BP. He will lose his job as head of the Goldman Sachs audit division, as well as a big chunk of his opulent pension. (More BP stories.)